Improvement in ditching-machines



UNITED STATES BENJAMIN RHETT, OF ABBEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA.

IMPROVEMENT IN DlTCH-lNG-MACHINES.

Specilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 117,235, dated July 18, 1871.

To all lwhom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN Rrinrr, M. D., of Abbeville, in the county of Abbeville and State or' South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ditching-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which makes part thereof, in which- Figure l is a plan or top view of a machine embracing my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical section in the line a' a', Fig. l, with a portion of the apron-frame in elevation to show the pinion and rack-bar. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of one of the buckets of the apron detached.

My invention relates to machines for digging or cutting and cleaning` ditches, and it consists: lst, in the arrangement of the main trame upon the axle of the supportiiig-wheels in such. manner as to admit of adjustment horizontally to exert the requisite degree of tension upon the driving-bands or chains of the endless apron of buckets as may be required when the elevation of the digging-frame has been changed for a deeper or shallower cut. 2d, in the arrangement of the frame carrying both the colters and the endless apron of buckets upon the mainframe, in combination with the braciiig-rods connecting' the two frames together in the line of draft, so that the diggingirame may be raised and lowered, by means of its rack and pinion, as desired. without weakening the machine, as will be more fully described. 3d, in constructing the buckets of the endless apron with a conca-ve bottom-` that 1s to say, a bottom deeper in the center, adjacent to the holding-rib, and gradually becommg iiush with said rib at either side and at its discharging end to discharge the dirt more equally onto the deliveringspout or saddle-shaped trough, as will be more fully explained. 4th, iii providing the front ofthe main frame with plow mold-boards for clearing a path on either side of the ditch for the passage of the track-wheels, which mold-boards are capable, from their manner ofattachment, of being carried up in the arc of a circle and secured from contact with the ground when the machine is in transit, as will be further described. 5th, the digging-frame so secured upon and within the main frame as that it will admit of a change of inclination, when deemed necessary, by shortening or lengthening the rods connecting it with the front of the main frame, while it also admits of bein g raised or lowered at such varying angles of inclination, and secured at any desired elevation, as will be further described.

In the accompanying drawing, the main frame of the ditching-machine is composed of two longitudinal side pieces, A, connected at either end by tran sverse bars B, an d suitably braced throughout its extent. It is mounted upon the axle C of the carrying-wheels l), in a manner which will be hereafter described. Within and upon the main frame of the machine is arranged the frame E, which carries the mechanism for cutting' or cleaning the ditch and also the endless apron F ot' buckets for elevating, carrying rearward, and discharging the earth taken out ofthe ditch. This frame E is constructed so as to leave a space between the upper and lower timbers thereof to receive and allow ofthe revolution of 'a shaft, on which are arranged two gear-wheels, a', which match into a toothed plate, b, aftixed to each side of the upper section of the frame E. The shaft of the gear-wheels has its bearings in studs c,

projecting upward from the main frame, and isv provided at either end with cranks d. These devices so arranged constitute an eii'ective means for raising and lowering the frame E, as may be required, in digging a deep or shallow ditch; and the said fra-me ina-y be secured at any desired elevation by passing a stop-pin, 1T, through the stud into 011e of a series of holes provided in the gearwheels on either side of the machine, or in any equivalent manner. Near the bottom of this frame E, and projecting therefrom toward the front, are two arms, G, one on either side, which form the bearings for the axle H of the circular cutters I, which are revolved by the forward motion of the machine and cut the vertical sides of the ditch. These circular cutters are arranged on a vertical line with the outer sides of the series of colters J which cut the bottom of the ditch, and these latter are likewise secured to the frame E and project downward obliquely from the lower end thereof. Upon this frame E the endless apron F is mounted and supported; the said frame being provided with rollers K L at its upper and lower ends, around which the apron turns, motion being communicated to said apron by means of bands or chains-M passing from the driving-wheels N, which form part of the groundwheels I) and take their motion therefrom, to the upper roller K in the frame.

In changing the elevation ofthe diggin g-frame certain means are necessary to be employed to take up the slack of the driving-chains or ropes. This I eifect by making the main frame adjustable on its axle; and for this purpose the longitudinal timbers A of said main frame are provided with a slot, I), through which a set-screw, Q, passes into the axle C beneath. Vhen, therefore, the Velevation of the digging-trame is altered, the set-screws are loosened, the frame moved in the required direction to exert the requisite tension on the drivin g-chains, and securely bolted to the axle, thus effecting the change in the grade of the ditch in a simple and convenient manner. The lower end of the digging-frame is securely connected and braced to the front of the main frame by rods It. It may be sometimes necessary in different soils to alter the inclination of the said digging-frame, and for this purpose the rods may be provided with extension links S, which will admit of the frame E being inclined more or less, as may be required. The frame E is supported at its outer end by a beam, T, which iits in a socket in an upright, U, at the lower end of which is a-rranged a guide-wheel, V, which follows in the track of the machine, and in the ditch already dug. This beam is made adjustable in its socket to accommodate the varying elevations ofthe diggin g-irame, and is secured at any desired point by means of a set-screw, h, or in any other suitable manner. Attached to the rear end of the apron-frame, and beneath the lischarging-buckets of said apron, is a saddle-shaped trough, havingI its apex in the center transversely of the carryingapron. Onto this trough the dirt taken from the ditch and carried up by the buckets of the apron is delivered, and it, in turn, distributes it equally on either side of the ditch, and in rear of but outside of the track of the machine. The stocks X of the plow mold-board for clearing a track in front of the ground-wheels l) are arranged in boxes secured to the lower face of the cross-bar B ofthe main frame in such manner as that they may be raised in the arc of a circle clear of the ground and secured when the machine is in tran.- sit, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

It sometimes becomes necessary to clean out ditches already dug, and my machine is equally applicable for this purpose. I/Vhen this is done, the digging colters are removed from the end of the frame and in their stead are arranged scoop-like shares or slashers,7 as termed, which scoop up the excess of dirt in the bottom ofthe ditch and deliver it onto the discharging-apron. I also contemplate the removal of the central digging-plow of the series, and securing in its stead a shovel-shaped plow, having a greater downward projection than its fellows, whereby a central channel is cut in the ditch to receive drain-tiles should their use be necessary.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The frame E is arranged upon and within the main frame A B at such elevation as will give the colters J a proper working depth, and the main frame is so adjusted upon its axle as to draw the driving-chains or ropes taut around the roller of the endless apron and the drivewheels. The machine is now drawn forward, the earth taken up by the colters being delivered into the buckets of the carrying-apron, whence it is delivered at the rear end of said frame onto the saddle-shaped trough, and discharged therefrom to the rear and on either side of the track of the machine. The machine, having traveled its allotted distance, is carried back, the diggingframe lowered, and the proper tension exerted upon the driving-bands or chains by its adjustment, as described, it is a gain dra-wn forward, taking oif another layer of earth, and thus the operation is continued until the requisite depth of ditch is obtained.

The machine is compact in its arrangement of parts, strong and durable in construction, and eiiicient in operation. It may be drawn by horsepower or arranged to be worked over its course by a steam-en gine or propelled thereby, as may be found desirable.

Having described my invention, I claiml. The arrangement of the main frame A- B of a ditching-machine upon the axle of its supporting-wheels in such manner as to admit of horizontal adjustment to exert the requisite degree of tension upon the driving-bands or chains operating the endless apron of the buckets when the elevation of the digging-frame is changed, as herein shown and described.

2. The arrangement of the frame E carrying both the colters I J and the endless apron of buckets F, in combination with the bracing-rods It, connecting the two frames together in the line of draft, so that the said digging-frame may be lowered by means ofthe rack I) and pinion u, and inclined more or less, as may be desired, as herein shown and described.

3. The buckets ofthe endless apron F, constructed with a concave bottom, deeper in the center adjacent to the holding-rib, and becoming iiush with said rib at either side and at its discharging end to discharge the dirt more equally onto the delivering-spout XV, as shown and described.

4. The combination of the main frame A B, mounted upon its axle C so as to be horizontal- 1y adjusted, the fra-me E carrying the circular and plow-colters I J at its lower end, and the pulley K and trough I at its opposite end, the drivin g-chains or bands M for giving motion to the endless apron F, having buckets, as described, and the adjustable guide-wheel V, the whole arranged and operating as herein shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

BENJAMIN RHETT, M. I).

NVitnesses S. M. GowAN, WVM. H. PARKER. 

